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Iranian forces took control of a southern Iraqi oil well on a disputed section of the border on Friday, US and Iraqi officials told AFP.

“There has been no violence related to this incident and we trust this will be resolved through peaceful diplomacy between the governments of Iraq and Iran,” a US military spokesman told AFP at Contingency Operating Base Adder, just outside the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah.

“The oil field is in disputed territory in between Iranian and Iraqi border forts,” he said, adding that such incidents occur quite frequently.

The Iraqi government demanded an immediate withdrawal later today.Sky News reported:

Iraq has demanded the immediate withdrawal of Iranian troops who have apparently seized control of a disputed oilfield in the south after “infiltrating” the border.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said his country viewed the alleged Iranian incursion into the Fakka oilfield and the area known as ‘Well Number Four’ as a violation of its sovereignty.

He added that Iraq is seeking a peaceful, diplomatic solution to the situation.